Machine for opening, filling, and closing bags



June 20, 1933. l HOHL 1,914,369

MACHINE FOR OPENING, FILLING, AND CLOSING BAGS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1929 I N VEN TOR.

June 20, 1933. e. l. HOHL 1,914,369

MACHINE FOR OPENING, FILLING, AND CLOSING BAGS Filed Dec. 26, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEY G. I. HOHL June 20, 1933'.

MACHINE FOR OPENING, FILLING, AND CLOSING BAGS Filed Dec. 26, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR. B Yozzqe I flol/g n m 0 n A 2 G. l. HOHL June 20, 1933.

' MACHINE FOR OPENING, FILLING, AND CLOSING BAGS Filed Dec. 26,1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR. aga vzm/w 2: M A TTORNEY.

G. I. HOHL June 20, 1933.

MACHINE FOR OPENING, FILLING, AND CLOSING BAGS Filed Dec. 26, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 6201 6 Z. 119%, B Y

A TTORNE Y.

Fatented June 21), 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE I. HOHL, OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, .ASSIGNOR TO CARTONING MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY MACHINE FOR OPENING, FILLING, AND CLOSING BAGS Application filed December 26, 1929. Serial No. 416,516.

This invention relates, generally, to automatic packaging machinery; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel automatic machine for opening, filling and closing bags.

This invention has for its principal or general object to provide a packaging machine adapted to automatically feed collapsed paper hags or'envelopes from a supply thereof to a filling station, thereupon opening or expanding the same and depositing therein the material desired to be enclosed therein, then closing the open end or mouth of the same, and, if desired, sealing the thus closed end, all whereby desired material may be packed in packages by rapid and automatic operations, and the packages discharged from the machine ready for commercial distribution or other .use.

This invention has for more specific objects, to provide novel means for manipulating collapsed or flat folded paper bags, such e. g. as satchel-bottom bags, to open the same preparatory to depositing a desired content therein; to provide a novel means for delivering into the opened bag the material to be enclosed therein; and to provide novel means for .folding and sealing in closed condition the open end of a filled paper bag.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the novel bag handling and filling machine made according to the principles of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine, with parts in horizontal section; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of parts of the machine, showing more particularly the bag delivery mechanism; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, similar to that of Fig. 3, but showing additional operations of the bag delivery mechanism; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing in part the material delivery means and cooperating bag expanding or opening means; Figs, 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views, taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 1, and respectively showing various stages in the operation of the bag end folding and closing means; Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View, taken on line 99 in Fig. 1, to illustrate the operation of the bag sealing means; Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively enlarged fragmentary sectional views, re-

spectively taken on line 1010 and line 11--11 1n Flg. 1, to illustrate the completing stages in the bag closing and sealing operations.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawings, the reference character 12 indicates a table or base plate, which may be suitably supported on standards or legs (not shown). Secured upon the base plate 12 is the supporting pedestal 13 of a bag holder or magazine 14. The bags, in flat collapsed state, are

stacked or piled within the holder or maga- 76 zine 14. The bags, indicated by the reference character 15, are of a structural form having a so-called satchel bottom, that is, a folded bottom which, when the bag is collapsed to fiat condition, lies in a plane 80 cross ledges 16 and 17 to support the ends of the bags. and side ledges 18 to support the sides of the bags, said latter ledges terminating short of the ledge 17 to provide a discharge opening 19, and the free ends of said ledges 18 being formed by down-turned yieldable or spring-like terminal portions 18' adjacent to said opening 19. The bags are so arranged that the bottom ends thereof are disposed over the discharge opening 19, so that the lap 15 of the lowermost bag will be exposed through said opening 19 (see Fig. 2).

Suitably supported on the base plate 12, by a standard 20, is an arcuate bag delivery slideway 21, the rearward end of which extends beneath the bag holder or magazine, and the fomvard end of which curves downward toward and terminates adjacent to a bag runway, which will be hereinafter more particularly described. Cooperative with said slideway 21 and the magazine 14 is an oscillatable bag extractor and delivery means. This latter means comprises a lever arm 22 pivoted by its lower end to a fulcrum block or bearing 23. Pivotally con nected with the free end of said lever arm 22 is a bell-crank lever 24, the upper arm of which carries an extractor blade 25 which overlies the slideway 21, and the lower arm of which carries a traction roller 26 which rides on a fixed cam plate'27. Said cam plate 27 is concentric to the slideway 21, but is of smaller radius. Said cam plate 27 is cut away at its rearward end portion to provide a drop-section 28 to permit downward swinging of the lower arm of the bell-crank lever and its roller, with consequent upward swinging of the upper arm of the bell-crank lever and its extractor blade 25, to dispose the latter in initial position beneath the magazine preparatory to engaging and withdrawing a bag therefrom. Said cam plate 27 is also similarly cut away at its forward end portion to provide another drop-section 29 cooperative with the bell-crank lever and its roller. A track lever 30 is pivotally connected with said cam plate 27, the forward arm of which possesses a curvilinear upper margin aligu able with the adjacent upper margin of the cam plate 27 so as to normally bridge the drop-section 29, thereby to normally support the roller of the bell-crank lever 24 to maintain the extractor blade 25 in bag gripping relation to the slideway 21, until the time arrives to release the bag.

Su ported, by a suitable bracket 31, above the orward end portion of said slideway 21 is a stationary bag gripping jaw 32 having a rearwardly and upwardly chamfered gripping face. Pivotally supported. by a bracket 33, which preferably extends from the standard 20, is a movable bag gripping member 34, having at its free end a yieldable jaw portion 35 to cooperate with said stationary bag gripping jaw 32. Normally said member 34 is swung back and down heneath the face of the slideway 21, the latter being suitably cut away to permit the movement of said member 34 therethrough. Connected with said member 34 is a crank arm 36 for imparting swinging movement thereto.

Means are provided for automatically operating the above described bag delivery and gripping mechanism in properl timed relation to other mechanisms of t e machine. To this end, a power driven shaft 37 is journaled in bearings 33 to extend longitudinally along the rearward side of the table or base plate 12. Fixed on said shaft 37 is a cam wheel 35), into the cam race 40 of which extends a roller stud 41 carried by a connecting rod 42, the outer end of the latter being pivotally secured to the bag extractor lever arm 22, whereby timed oscillation of the latter is produced to effect operative reciprocation of the extractor blade 25 relative to the slideway 21. Fixed on said shaft 37 is another cam wheel 43, into the cam race 44 of which extends a roller stud 45 carried by a connecting rod 46, the outer end of which is pivotally secured to the crank arm 36 to produce timed operation of the movable bag gripping jaw member 34. The means for producing timed operation of the track-lever 30 comprises a trip lever 47 pivoted onthe camplate 27 so that its forward arm engages a lift stud 30 carried by the tail piece 30 of said track-lever 30. The rearward arm of said trip lever 47 carries at its extremity a roller 48 which rides 011 the circumferential periphery of said cam wheel 43. Fixed on the periphery of said cam wheel 43 is a trip cam 49 for moving said trip lever and through it the track lever 30 at proper times. Said track lever 30 and trip lever 47 are biased to normal initial positions by a pull spring 50 connected between the tail piece of the former and the base plate or table 12.

Suitably supported on said base plate or table 12, to extend longitudinally to the right from the bag delivery end of the slideway 21, 1s a bag supporting runway comprising bottom track bars 51 and side guide bars 52. Said bars 51 and 52 are carried by bracket plates 53 fixed on pedestal members 54 which rise from said base or table 12.

Vertically movable adjacent to the bag delivery end of the slideway 21 is a guide funnel or chute mechanism adapted to cooperate with a delivered bag to be filled, so as to enter the mouth of the latter to assist in opening up the same, and thereafter to guide material discharged from a source of supply into the bag for filling the same. Said guide funnel or chute mechanism includes a forwardly extending lever arm 55 fixed on a pivot shaft 56, which is journaled in a bearing standard 57 suitably located on and supported by said base or table 12, and further includes a rearwardly extending lever arm 58, also fixed on said pivot shaft 56. Fixed on and rotated by said shaft 37 is a cam-wheel 59 having a cam race 60 in which rides a roller stud 61 carried at the free end of said lever arm 58. Said camwheel 59 operates to produce timed oscillation of the lever arms 55-58, whereby timed operative movements of the guide funnel or chute mechanism is effected. Connected with the free or outer end of said lever arm 55, by means of an ofl-set bracket member 62, or by any other suitable means, is a guide tunnel or chute member 63, preferably of rectangular cross-sectional shape approximating in external dimensions the internal dimensions of an opened bag to be filled. Said funnel or chute member 63 is provided with a suitably outwardly flared open upper end portion 63'. The lower or discharge end of said funnel or chute member 63 is obliquely cut downwardly and inwardly toward the bag slideway 21 to provide a tapered or wedge-like extremity 63". Hinged to the outer side margin of said lower or discharge end of said funnel or chute member 63 is a closure plate 64, the free extremity of which is chamfered as at 64: to provide a sharp edge. Said closure late is counter-balanced by a projectlng weight 65 to normally bias the same to closed position relative to the lower or discharge end of said tunnel or chute member 63.

Communicating with the interior of said tunnel or chute member 63 is an air intake port 66. Suitably connected with the outer end of said port 66 is a flexible air conduit 67, the opposite end of which is connected with an airsupply pipe 68 leading from any suitable source of air under pressure. Connected in the line of said air supply pipe 68 is control valve 69 having a lever 70 for actuating the same. Means are provided for producing properly timed opening and closing movements of said control valve 69. This means is actuated from a transverse counter shaft 71 mounted in bearing members 72, said counter shaft 71 being driven from said shaft 37 through intermeshing bevel gears 73 and 74. Fixed on. said counter shaft 71 is an air valve actuating cam 75,

having in its periphery a primary depression 76 and'a secondary cam depression 77 A bridge plate 78 is secured to and upon the bearing members'72 in spaced relation to and above the base or table 12. Secured to said bridge plate 78 is a bracket arm 79 to which is pivoted a lever member 80, having at its free end a lateral extension 80 which projects toward said air valve actuating cam 75. Mounted on the extremity of said lever member extension 80' is an antifriction roller 81 which rides on the periphery of said cam 75. Said lever member 80 is biased toward said cam by a pull spring 82. Interconnecting said lever member and the lever 70, which directly operates the air control valve 69, is a connecting rod or link 83.

Slidably mounted in connection with said funnel or chute member 63, for transversedisposition across the interior passage thereof at proper times, is a back-pressure plate 84. Said back pressure plate projects laterally and exteriorly from a side of said funnel or chute member 63, and is supported for longitudinal sliding movement in a guidebracket 85 movable with said lever arm 55. Means are provided for producing properly timed movements of said back-pressure plate 84 relative to the interior passage of the tunnel or chute member 63. This means comprises a slidcway 86 supported, on said bridge plate 78 in which is mounted for slidable reciprocation, a slide bar 87. Suitably secured to the free end of said slide bar is an upstanding coupling pin 88v which engages through a slot 89 in the tail of saidv back-pressure plate 84, whereby the latter is coupled with said slide-bar 87, but is nevertheless free for vertical movement accompanying the rise and fall of said funnel or chute member 63. The means for producing timed reci rocation of said slide-bar 87, with correspon ing timed movement of said backpressure plate 84, comprises an actuating cam 90 fixed on and rotated by said counter shaft 71. Pivoted at its lower end in a fulcrum knuckle 91, fixed on said base or table 12, is a lever 92 having a lateral arm 93 carrying an anti-friction roller 94 which bears on the peri hery of said cam 90. Said lever 92 is biase toward said cam 90 by a pullspring 93. lnterconnecting the upper free end of said lever 92 with sa1d slide-bar 87 is a connecting rod or link 95.

Supported by suitable carrying brackets 96, which rise from saidbridge plate 7 8, is asupply magazine 97 to contain the material desired to be filled into the bags by the operation of the machine. Said magazine is provided with a discharge spout 98 through which material is discharged from the magazine by suitable measuring and discharging devices (not shown) with which the latter is provided. The discharge end of said spout 98 is aligned with and above the flared upper end 64 of said funnel or chute member 63. Said discharge end of said spout 98 is provided with a hinged closure plate or trap 99 biased to open position by a pull spring 100. Said closure plate or trap 99 is normally held in closed relation to the spout 98 by a track arm 101 which is carried by said side-bar 87; said closure plate or trap 99 having an anti-friction roller disposed to be engaged by said track arm 101.

The operation of the bag filling mechanism, as thus far described, is as follows When operating power is suitably transmitted to the machine, the shaft 37 is rotated, whereby the cam wheel 39 actuates the lever arm 22 which is initially positioned at the rear end of the bag delivery slideway to dispose the extractor blade 25 beneath and rearward of the discharge opening 19 of the bag supply magazine 14. When the lever arm 22 occupies such initial position, the roller 26 of the bell-crank lever 24 drops into the drop section 28 of the cam-plate 27, the said bell-crank lever 24 being biased to such movement by a spring 24. Said bellcrank lever 24 is thus caused to turn on its fulcrum so that the extractor blade 25 is uplifted from the surface of the bag delivery slideway 21, and projected toward the lap 15 of the lowermost collapsed bag 15 within the magazine 14 (see Figure 3). As actuated by the cam wheel 39, said lever arm 22 is swung forward, whereby the free end of the extractor blade 25 is carried over the lap 15 and beneath the body of the bag 15. Continued forward movement of the lever arm carries the roller 26 of the bell-crank lever 24 out of the drop section 28 of the cam plate 27. thus turning said bell-crank lover so as to lower the extractor blade 25 upon the slideway 21, thereby )ulling the engaged end of the bag 15 out o the magazine 14 while holding the lap 15 thereof engaged between the extractor blade 25 and the surface of said slideway 21, whereupon continued forward movement of the extractor blade, as carried by the forwardly swinging lever arm 22, withdraws the bag 15 from the magazine through discharge opening 19, and on down slideway 21 to the forward or delivery end of the latter. lVhen the bag 15 is positioned at the forward end of slideway 21, it overlies the normally back swung bag-gripping member 34, which, through its timed actuating means. is thereupon swung upwardly and forwardly before the extractor blade 25 is released. Such movement of the member 34 swings the bag 15 to upright position, so as to carry the upper end of its rear wall against the stationary bag-gripping jaw 32, said member dwelling in such position whereby its yieldable jaw portion 35 cooperates with said jaw 32 to grip and hold the bag in lip-raised position. The front wall of the bag 15 is notched as at 15" to clear the jaw 32, thus leaving initially collapsed but gripped bag free for opening expansion. When the bag is thus gripped and suspended in vertical position, the timed actuating means which operates track lever 30, functions to drop the latter from its normal bridging relation to drop section 29 of cam plate 27, thereby allowing bellcrank lever 24 to turn so as to lift extractor blade 25, thus releasing lap 15' of the bag, and freeing the bottom end thereof. Upon completion of the operations thus far described. the actuating mechanism operating the lever arm 22 is timed to return the same with extractor blade 25 to normal initial position ready for suitably timed repetition of said operations.

While the collapsed bag 15 is suspended by engaging jaws 3235 (see Figure 4), the

means which operates funnel or chute member 63 functions to produce an initial lowering movement of the latter toward the bag 15, so as to carry the wedge-like extremity of member 63 down close to the upper edge of bag 15. When member 63 is so disposed, air control means functions to discharge a preliminary blast of air into and through member 63, said preliminary air blast be ing directed by closure plate 64 toward the bag end, said closure plate 64 being, at this time, in closed position, but being adapted to yield to the discharge of air past the same. The preliminary blast of air occurs as the primary depression 76 of cam is carried into operative relation to lever member 80, with consequent transmission of preliminary opening movement by the latter to control valve 69. At this time and until the bag is fully opened or expanded, slidc-bar 87 remains in normal advanced position so as to maintain back-pressure plate 84 advanced across funnel or chute member passage, in which position it prevents upward escape of air and assures discharge of air through and from lower end of funnelor chute member. The preliminary blast of air, being directed against the open end of bag 15, operates to separate free front wall of latter from ongaged rear wall thereof, whereby continued descending movement of funnel or chute member 63 will permit its wedge-like extremity to enter through open end of bag between the thus initially separated front and rear walls thereof. As funnel or chute member approaches limit of its downward movement, and after started into bag 15, the counter-balance weight 65 of its closure plate 64 will be engaged and arrested by a suitably disposed fixed stop-bar 65', thus swinging said weight 65 upward and in turn swinging said closure plate to open position, with effect of positively opening out the mouth of bag 15 (see Figure 5). By time funnel or chute member 63 is thus entered and opened into upper end of bag 15, a second or final blast of air is delivered and directed into interior of bag so as to fully expand same ready for reception of material desired to be filled into bag. Said second or final blast of air occurs as the secondary cam depression 77 of cam 75 is carried into operative relation to lever member 80, with consequent second transmission of opening movement by latter to control valve 69.

After bag 15 is fully opened, the actuating means controlling the movement of baggripping member 34 is timed to effect return of latter to normal initial position, thus freeing bag from jaws 3235, so that bag is suspended from open funnel or chute member 63 at receiving end of bag supporting runway.

The bag is now ready to receive material to be enclosed therein, and to this end the means for actuating slide bar 87 is timed to produce a retractivc movement thereof, which movement operates to withdraw from across the passage of funnel or chute member 03 said back-pressure plate 84, and at same time withdraws the supporting track arm 101 from spout trap 99, whereby the latter is opened to the discharge of material from spout 98, into and through funnel or chute member 63, and thence into interior of bag 15. The weight of material deposited in bag 15 will slide same ofi' funnel or chute member 63, leaving filled bag resting on and in receiving end of bag supporting runway, when funnel or chute member 63 is raised to initial uplifted position by its actuating means, which is timed to effect such operation when delivery of material into bag is completed.

The filled bag 15 is now ready to undergo closing and sealing operations. These closing and sealing operations are produced by mechanisms adapted to such purposes which are situated adjacent to the bag supporting runway, such mechanism being actuated in timed relation to a conveyer means which advances filled bags step by step through said bag supporting runway.

The conveyer means for advancing filled bags through the supporting runway, comprises a longitudinally reciprocable rockshaft 102 which is supported in bearing pedestals 102". Said rock-shaft 102 is provided at one end with a flattened face 102' to connect the same in rotatably fixed relation a rocker-arm 103 and yet free relative thereto for desired longitudinal movement. Said rocker-arm 103 is retained against displacement, at one side of a bearing pedestal 103, by a yoke frame 104 fixed to the latter. Fixed on said drive shaft 37 is a cam wheel 105. Pivotally connected to a fulcrum knuckle 106 fixed on said table or base 12 is an oscillatable arm 107 having a roller stud 108 engaged in the race 100 of said cam wheel 105. Interconnecting said arm 107 and said rocker-arm 103 is a connecting rod 110. Said cam wheel 105 produces, through the described transmission mechanism properly timed rocking movement of said rockshaft 102. Fixed on said rock-shaft 102, by means of carrier blocks 111, is a conveyor plate 112 having longitudinally spaced inwardlyandlaterally projecting vertical pushplates 112-1. Timed longitudinal reciprocation of said ro(,-l -shaft and conveyor plate is produced by the following mechanism. Pivotall v connected to a fulcrum block 114 fixed on said table or base 12 is an oscillatable arm 11? having a laterally projecting roller stud 110. which enters in a channel 117 provided between radial flanges 118 connected with one of said carrier blocks 111. Fixed on said counter shaft '71 is a cam-wheel 119 having a cam-race 120. A connecting rod 121 is pivotally connected, at one end, with said oscillatable arm 115, and is provided, adjacent to its other end, with a laterally projecting roller stud 122 which is operatively engaged in said cam-race 120 of cam wheel 119.

In the operation of the conveyer means, at the end of propulsion stroke thereof, the means for rocking shaft 102 functions at proper time to turn said shaft outward, thereby swinging upwardly and outwardly said conveyer'plate 112 to withdraw said push-plates from the path of movement of and out of operative relation to filled bags on said bag supporting runway. While the conveyer plate is thus out-turned to inoperative position, the means for reciprocating said rock-shaft 102 functions to retract the same longitudinally to carry the conveyer plate to initial position of its propulsion stroke, whereupon said means for rocking shaft 102 is timed to function in opposite direction, thereby swinging downwardly and inwardly said conveyer plate 112 to dispose the push-plates in propelling relation to filled bags on said supporting runway. After a bag has received its content of material, in the manner already above-described, and the conveyor means has been turned into propelling relation thereto, the means for reciprocating said rock-shaft 102 functions to produce a forward movement thereof, thus effecting a propelling stroke of said conveyer plate and its push-plates. These operations are repeated, whereby step by step movement of the filled bags along the supporting runway occurs, with intermittent pauses at different points where bag closing and sealing mechanisms are located, so that the. same may be timed for operation during the periods of dwell of the filled bags as they progress along said supporting runway.

"he. bag-closing mechanism comprises a shaft 123 journaled in bearings 124 adjaccntly above and parallel to the bag supporting runway. aid shaft 123 is driven by gearing 125 and sprocket and chain transmission 126 from said shaft 123. Fixed on said shaft 123, in proper location, is a tucker arm 127 and side folder blades 128, the former being mounted between the latter and somewhat in advance thereof in their direction of revolution. Also fixed on said shaft, on each side of the grouped tucker arm and side folder blades, are carrier arms 120, and connected to and between the free ends of said carrier arms is a creasing roller 1210 which trails the movement of said folder blades. Hingedly mounted on the upper margin of said conveyer plate 112 is a spring pressed yieldable up-standing backing plate 131, which, when the bag conveyer means is inturned to bag propelling position and at the end of a propelling stroke, is

opposed to the path of revolution of said tucker arm, folder blades and creaslng roller.

In operation, when the conveyer means has operated to move a filled bag from the filling station along the runway to a point of rest or dwell aligned with the path of movement of said bag-closing mechanism, properly timed relation of the latter elements will carry the same into closing engagement with the upper open end of such filled bag. In this operation, the tucker arm 127 first engages the top end portion of the bag centrally between the sides thereof, being effective to fold and tuck the rear bag wall over the content of the bag and into closing contact with the front bag wall; the backing-plate yieldably supporting the paper during such tucking and folding operation (see Figure 6). Such tucking and folding operation forms side wings W (see Figure 6) which project into the path of the movement of the following folder blades 128. The ends of the folder blades 128 are oblique to the plane of said wings W, with their leading ends divergent and their trailing ends convergent, and consequently as folder blades 128 pass over the end of the bag, the same engage and turn inwardly and downwardly said wings W into folded relation to the engaged front and rear walls of the bag. The creasing roller 130 closely follows the folder blades 128, and serves to roll or crease flatly against the pressure of the backing plate 131, the produced folds. Suitably mounted above the inner side gulde bar of bag supporting runway is a rock-shaft 132 upon which is fixed a creasing plate 133, which is initially back-turned away from the filled bag positioned at the bag-closingstation. Timed operating means is provided to swing said creasing plate forwardly and down on the top end of the closed bag, as soon as the creasing roller 130 has cleared the same (see Figure 7 The creasing plate thus serves to flatten down the parts of the folded bag top which lie over the bag content. Said creasing plate 133 is provided with a sharp lower free end margin 133' and a flat right angled end face 133". The movement of the creasing roller 130 swings outward said backing plate 131 against the spring tension thereof, until the former clears the free end of the latter, whereupon said backing plate is suddenly released so as to fly back under said spring tension and thereby carry the closure flap F, formed by the projecting folded free end portions of the bag top, forcibly against the end face 133 of said creasing plate 133 while at the same time creasing the juncture of said flap F with the bag body over and against the sharp lower end margin 133 of said creasing plate (see Figure 8). This operation later assures easy down folding F over the closed bag top.

The means for producing timed oscillation of said creasing plate 133, comprises a cam 134 mounted on said shaft 37 which functions to oscillate an adjacently disposed pivoted bell-crank 135, to in turn actuate, through connecting rod 135, a quadrant gear 136 which meshes with and drives a spur gear 137 on the shaft 132 of said creasing plate 133.

Located in alignment with the succeed ing step of the movement of a filled bag on the supporting runway, is the arrangement of means for applying an adhesive to the closure flap F, preparatory to sealing down the same over the top of the filled and closed bag. This means comprises a dauber arm 138 fixed on said shaft 123 so as to be revolved thereby. Suitably located in the rear of said dauber arm location is a glue pot 139, having a shaft 140 journaled in connection therewith which carries a dipping roller 141, so arranged that its under surface runs through the liquid glue contained in said glue pot. Said shaft 140 is driven through a clutch means 142 from a shaft 143 having thereon a sprocket 144 engaged and driven by the chain of said sprocket and chain transmission 126. Also journaled in connection with glue pot is a second shaft 145 on which is fixed a glue transfer roller 146 which is tangent to and driven b said dipping roller 141. The end of the d auber arm 138, during each revolution thereof, will engage the surface of said glue transfer roller 146 to receive an application of glue therefrom. Hingedly mounted on the upper margin of said conveyer plate 112 is a spring pressed yieldable upstanding backing plate 147. Also fixed on said shaft 123, to slightly trail said dauber arm 138, and on opposite sides of the latter, are backing-plate control arms 148 having forwardly projecting toeportions 149 adapted to engage said backing plate 147 on either side of the closure flap F overlying the same.

In operation, as the dauber arm 138 revolves toward the closed bag, its end will engage the inner face of the end portion of closure flap F, so as to apply thereto a coating of glue; the closure flap F and backing plate 147 yielding to the pressure of said dauber arm. Before the dauber arm moves of said flap entirely away from the closure flap F, the

toe-portions 149 of the control arms 148 will engage and thrust back the backing plate 147 so as to hold its exposed surface away from contact with the advancing dauber arm, thereby avoiding smearing of the face of said hacking plate with glue (see Figure 9). As the dauber arm and control arms advance beyond the end of the backing plate 147, the latter is freed from the restraint of the latter, and swings back to normal up- LUU standing position under the influence of its spring, thereby at the same time returning the closure [lap F to Lip-standing position,

preparatory to the folding down of the same over the closed end of the ba After the bag receives the application of adhesive upon the closure flap F, the conveyer mechanism is timed to make a recovering stroke, whereby a rigid folder plate 150, carried by the conveyor plate 112, is brought into alignment with the bag while the con- \eyer-plate is out-turned, whereby as the conveyor-plate is again in-turned into propelling relation to the bag, said folder plate 150 will be carried down over the top of the filled and closed bag. This movement of the folder plate swings the closure flap F downward over the bag top, thereby pressing the glue side of closure flap into adhering relation to bag top (see Figure 10). The. conveyer mechanism now effects another bag advancing stroke.

The conveyor mechanism, when again making a recovering stroke, brings into alignment with the further advanced bag, a rigid retaining plate 151 which is carried by the conveyor plate 112. hen the c011- \eyer plate 112 is iii-turned preparatory to a succeeding propelling stroke, said retaining plate is swung down upon the closure lap F to hold the same down while the conveyer mechanism effects another propelling stroke. During such propelling stroke, the down-folded closure flap F is carried beneath a fixed retaining flange 152 which is mounted along the inner side of the bag supporting runway, whereby the closure flap F is retained in clcsed position untilthe glue is set (see Figure 11). In order to quickly dry and set the glue. a hot-plate 153 is extended along the inner side of the bag supporting runway in conjunction with said retaining flange 152. Cooperative with the rear face of said hot-plate 153 is any suitable form of electric heating element 154 adapted to supply heat to said hot-plate 153 and retaining flange 152 (also see Figure 11).

The retaining flange 152 and hot plate 15?) may be made of suitable lengths to assure sufl'icient time for the drying and setting of the glued closure flaps, as the bags are moved step by step continuous thereto by the conveyor means, and thereafter discharged from the machine.

From the above description it will be understood that the instant invention provides a novel relatively simple packaging machine adapted to automatically and successively deliver and open collapsed bags, fill the same and then close the. same, also sealing the closed end if desired, all in a rapid and cfiicient manner. The novel packaging machine is adapted to handle and fill into ba'jjs a variety of materials. For example, the machine is especially adapted to package nuts, candy, granular materials, etc., and, according to the character of material handling and delivery means employed therewith, may be readily adapted to handle semi-solid materials as Well.

I am aware that many changes could be made in the above described mechanisms, as well as in the details of the construction thereof, without departing from the scope of this invention, and therefore it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the kind described,

means for closing the open ends of filled bags comprising, revolvable tucker arm and side folder blades, a yieldable backing plate to cooperate with said tucker arm and side folder blades, and a revolvable creasing roller adapted to trail said folder blades and also cooperative with said yieldable backing plate.

2. In a machine of the kind described, means for closing the open ends of filled bags comprising, revolvable tucker arm and side folder blades, a yieldable backing plate to cooperate with said tucker arm and side folder blades, a revolvable creasing roller adapted to trail said folder blades and also cooperative with said yieldable backing plate, and an oscillatable creaser-plate movable down upon the top of the closed bag and against which the yieldable plate forcibly returns when released by the creasing roller for the purposes described.

In a machine of the kind described, in combination, means to sru-ccssively deliver collapsed open top bags from a stacked supply thereof to a filling station, means to expand and then fill the bags at said station, a filled bag supporting runway conveyor means to intermittently move tilled bags along said runway, means contiguous to said runway for folding the open ends of filled bags to close the same, comprising a rcvolvable tucker arm aml side folder blades, a yieldable backing plate to cooperate with said tucker arm aml side folder blades, and a revolvable creasing roller adapted to trail said folder blades and also cooperative with said backing plate.

t. In a machine of the kind described, in combination, means to successively deliver collapsed open top bags from a stackel supply thereof to a filling station, means to expand and then fill the bags at said station, a filled bag supporting runway, conveyer means to intermittently move filled bags along said run\ my, means contiguous to said runway for folding the open ends of filled bags to close the same. comprising a revolvable tucker arm and side folder blades, a yieldable backing plate to cooperate with said tucker arm and side folder blades, a revolvable creasing roller adapted to trail said folder blades and also cooperative with said backing plate, and an oseillatable creaser plate movable downwardly upon the top of the closed bag and against which said backing plate forcibly abuts when released by the creasing roller to thereby form a bag closure flap.

5. In a machine. of the kind described, in combination, means to successively deliver collapsed open top bags from a stacked supply thereof to a filling station, means to expand and then lill the bags at said station, a filled bag supporting runway, conveyer means to intermittently move filled bags along said runway, means contiguous to said runway for folding the open ends of filled bags to close the same, comprising a revolvable tucker arm and side folder blades, a yieldable backing plate to cooperate with said tucker arm and side folder blades, a revolvable creasing roller adapted to trail said folder blades and also cooperative with said backing plate, an oscillatable. creaser plate movable downwardly upon the top of the closed bag and against which said backing plate forcibly abuts when released by the creasing roller to thereby form a bag closure flap, means beyond said folding means to apply adhesive to said closure. flap, and means to turn and press said closure flap into adhered relation to the folded bag end.

6. In a machine of the kind described, in combination to successively deliver collapsed open top bags from a stacked supply thereof to a filling station, means to expand and then fill the bags at said station, a filled bag supporting runway, conveyor means to intermittently move, filled bags along said runway. means contiguous to said runway for folding the open ends of filled bags into closure folds including a closure flap. means beyond said folding means to apply ad hesive to said closure flap, comprising a revolvable dauber, an adhesive supply means engageable by said dauber, a yieldablc backing plate to support a bag closure flap subject to engagement by said dauber arm, and a revolvable control arm adapted to trail said dauber arm to thrust said backing plate out of the path of said dauber arm when the latter passes away from said closure. flap.

7. In a machine of the kind described, in combination, means to successively deliver collapsed open top bags from a stacked sup ply thereof to a filling station, means to expand and then fill the bags at said station, a. filled bag supporting runway. conveyer means to intermittently move filled bags along said runway, means contiguous to said runway for folding the open ends of filled bags into closure folds including a closure flap, means beyond said folding means to apply adhesive to said closure flap, comprising a. revolvable dauber, an adhesive supply means engageable by said dauber, a yieldable backing plate to support a bag closure flap subject to engagement by said dauber arm, a revolvable control arm adapted to trail said dauberarm to thrust said backing plate out of the path of said dauber arm when the latter passes away from said closure flap, and means carried and actuated by said conveyer means to turn, press and hold said closure flap in adhered relation to the folded bag end.

8. In a machine of the kind described, in combination, means to successively deliver collapsed open top bags from a stacked supply thereof to a filling station, means to expand and then fill the bags at said station, a filled bag supporting runway, conveyer means to intermittently move filled bags along said runway, a revolvable tucker arm and side folder blades contiguous to said runway for folding the open ends of filled bags into closure folds including a closure flap, a yieldable backing plate to cooperate with said tucker arm and side folder blades, a revolvable creasing roller adapted to trail said folder blades and also cooperative with said backing plate, an oscillatable creaser plate movable downwardly upon the folded top of the closed bag and against which said backing plate forcibly abuts when re leased by the creasing roller to thereby complete the formation of the bag closure flap, a revolvable dauber arm beyond said folding means, an adhesive supply means engageable by said dauber, a second yieldable backing plate to support a bag closure flap subject to engagement by said dauber arm. a revolvable control arm adapted to trailsaid dauber arm to thrust said second backing plate out of the path of said dauber arm when the latter passes away from said closure flap, and means carried and actuated by said conveyor means to turn, press and hold said closure flag in adhered relation to the folded bag on w 9. In a machine of the kind described, means to close the open ends of filled bags by folding the same to form closure folds including a closure flap comprising, a revolvable tucker arm and side folder blades, a yieldable backing plate to cooperate with said tucker arm and side folder blades, a revolvable creasing roller adapted to trail said folder blades and also cooperative with said backing plate, an osoillatable creaser plate movable downwardly upon the folded top of the closed bag and against which said backing plate forcibly abuts when released by the creasing roller to thereby complete the formation of the bag closure flap, a revolvable dauber arm beyond said folding means, an adhesive supply means engageable by said dauber arm, a second yieldable backing plate to support a bag closure flap subject to engagement by said dauber' arm, and means to turn and press said closure flap into adhered relation to the folded bag end.

10. In a machine of the kind described, means to close the open ends of filled bags by folding the same to form closure folds including a closure flap comprising, a revolvable tucker arm and side folder blades, a yieldable backing plate to cooperate with said tucker arm and side folder blades, a revolvable creasing roller adapted to trail said folder blades and also cooperative With said backing plate, an oscillatable creaser plate movable downwardly upon the folded top of the closed bag and against which said backing plate forcibly abuts when released by the creasing roller to thereby complete. the formation of the bag closure flap, a revolvable dauber arm beyond said folding means, an adhesive supply means engageable by said dauber arm, a second yieldable backing plate to support a bag closure flap subject to engagement by said dauber arm, a revolvable control arm adapted to trail said dauber arm to thrust said second backing plate out of the path of said dauber arm when the latter passes away from said closure flap, and means to turn and press said closure flap into adhered relation to the folded bag end.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of December, 1929.

GEORGE I. HOHL. 

